After they had enjoyed their breakfast and cleaned up the dishes, Elder Merakia and Elysha went back upstairs to change out clothes into their outdoor attire for the visit to the garden. With a feeling of anticipation fluttering within her chest, the little girl held the white spring dress her guardian had given her in her hands.
“My passion hobby as a fashion designer has always brought me great and practical benefits in these times of need.” Elder Merakia yawned and asked, “Elysha, are you confidant that you can take care of yourself without me?”
Elysha turned her head and nodded, whereupon her guardian continued, “That’s good to hear. Now if you need my help with anything, come to my room and knock on my door."
Once she had left and closed the door, Elysha turned her gaze back to her outdoor attire and began to change.
Her outfit was more than practical—not only did she put on her spring dress, which she had grown fond of in a matter of seconds, her dress was complemented by a dark blue cardigan with comfortable sleeves, which she left unbuttoned so that her necklace was visible in the middle.
Then Elysha caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and as she stood in front of it, she couldn't help but look at her dress reflected in different poses.
She thought to herself, ‘I look.... very cute.’
The little girl stood there and stared at her own reflection. She could see the outline of her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her gray-gold eyes looking back at her. Her fingers delicately traced the contours of her cheeks, caressing her soft and moist skin.
Then after that, she clutched her own dress, twirled playfully, and giggled as if experimenting with her own voice and appearance, filling the room as she enjoyed the simple pleasure of her own presence wearing a cute spring attire.
‘When you're done getting dressed, meet me at the backyard door near the table where we ate earlier, do you hear?’
The memory of Elder Merakia's instructions brought her back to reality. She stopped and recalled their conversation, her guardian's words resonating in her mind.
"Yes, madame." Elysha nodded in response, a hint of whimsy resonating in her voice. She reached up to touch the stone attached to her necklace, and with a final glance at the mirror, she collected her socks and slipped them on before turning towards the door, ready to embark on her outdoor adventure.
As Elysha entered the hallway, the impatience inside her grew. She felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness, and her heart beat faster with each passing moment. When she arrived in the living room, she met with Elder Merakia, who was wearing a navy blue coat with a blazer underneath and a long yellow skirt. She had tied her chestnut-brown hair into a low bun decorated with rose-colored flowers and leaves. In her right gloved hand she held a walking cane.
“Oh, you come back just in time,” Elder Merakia said, who was gazing out through a window. “I was about to check up on whether you were ready or not.”
Then she took a hat from a table and went over to fit it on the child's head.
Surprised, Elysha clutched at the straws of a spring hat that her guardian had given her, who then commented, “How lovely, the colors and flowers go very well together.”
As they stood outside the front door, there was a certain air of anticipation. Elysha's eyes lit up as her little hands tugged at the sturdy moss-brown rain boots that slipped into her feet. Elder Merakia looked down at her pupil and asked, "Are you ready, dear child?"
Elysha nodded, her heart beating in her chest as her silver necklace hung from her slender neck. "Yes, Elder Mera. I am ready to see the garden."
With a smile, Elder Merakia held out her hand and opened the door, revealing the path that led to a new sight of wonder just waiting to be explored.
~ ❈❇❈ ~
Hand in hand, Elder Merakia and Elysha stepped out of the cottage through the back door. As they stepped outside, a cool breeze greeted them, bringing with it the scent of flowers and the whispers of nature.
They walked down the pathway, the child’s held her breath as they made their way to the entrance of the their destination. The moment they arrived together, Elysha's eyes widened—before her lay a view that stretched endlessly across the courtyard.
Vibrant colors and objects greeted her as she gazed at the sight of the garden: The air was filled with the cheerful melodies of birds, and tall trees and lush shrubs adorned the landscape, their branches decorated with blooming flowers and the soft rustle of leaves.
The ground beneath her feet was covered in soft moss and paving stones, a path leading to various places with flowerbeds along the sides, their petals displaying in a variety of colors as flying insects hovered and fluttered above. On the other side was a fountain, accompanied by the sound of water splashing against the rocks. Above it all, the entire garden looked just as delightful and lovely the way she had seen it from behind the window pane.
“This is my garden,” said Elder Merakia, unloading a parasol. “What do you make of it?”
She turned to Elysha, whose expression was overwhelmed by the sight of the surroundings, and her wide eyes revealed that she was seeing them for the first time, and her body language appeared nervous and anxious.
Without words, Elysha took a step forward, as if hypnotized, attracted by the colorful flowers she saw from afar. She approached them with slow steps, her gaze full of curiosity.
She bent down and picked some petals, which she held delicately in her hand. The petals felt warm and soft against her skin, but also a little ticklish from their gentle touch. She leaned closer to the essence of nature when suddenly a breeze swept through the garden, playfully lifting the petals from her hand and carrying them away through the air of a fleeting dance—and so did with her spring hat.
“Oh—”
Elysha turned around was about to chase after it when the hat suddenly flew back past her.
Her eyes turned to Elder Merakia, who smiled back, placed the hat onto her head and said, “Be careful there, and try not to let the wind catch your hat next time, will you?”
Elysha nodded, and looked back to see the petals still carried on by the wind. She moved forward and followed after them, and every step she took was accompanied by a guiding breeze of nature, showing her the way to unexplored wonders that lay ahead.
Elder Merakia smiled, watching Elysha's eyes dance from one sight to another. It seemed as if the sight of her carefully tended garden filled the child with renewed joy and enthusiasm, displacing any lingering worries from the breakfast experience.
Then she adjusted her parasol and spoke out to the little girl, "You can explore as much as you want, sweetie. This garden is a world unto itself, waiting to be discovered.”
"Okay!" Elysha replied with a nod of excitement, barely registering Elder Merakia's words. Her senses were filled with the impressions of nature, and her heartbeats echoed in her ears.
As she walked further into the garden, her steps gradually slowed as she took in the scenery that surrounded her. Without realizing it, she had involuntarily wandered on, moving away and losing sight of her guardian's presence in the enchantment of the garden.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Indeed, Elder Merakia’s words are true—the garden feels like a world of its own: Stone walls with ornate gates divided the space into enticing sections that invite exploration. The initial paving stones diverged into dirt paths which meandered through the garden, leading to hidden corners waiting to be discovered. Each corner was adorned with lush shrubs and delicate flowers, creating a colorful picture that was pleasing to the eye.
The trees provided shade and comfort, their branches reaching out as if inviting her to rest under their pleasant shade. The air was filled with the gentle hum of insects, with butterflies and bees fluttered about, adding a further layer of magic to Elder Merakia's garden.
For the little girl, the garden was not only a visual delight, but also a playground for her soul. Its existence appealed to her sensibilities, and now, standing amidst its sensation, she felt as if she herself had entered a wonder—
“Ah-choo!”
Elysha sneezed.
She blinked her eyes a few times, readjusted her vision, sniffled and then wiped her nose with her sleeve. She looked at it and saw a large snot on her precious blue cardigan.
“Eww…” She cringed and wiped it off on her white spring dress. Then she lapsed back into her trance-like state and walked on.
Time seemed to slip away from her as she wandered through the labyrinthine paths of the garden. Lost in the wonders of the garden, Elysha's footsteps echoed softly on the dirt paths as she moved, drawing her closer to the next thing that awaited her. She gazed at the vibrant colors of the garden, the soothing sounds, and the scents that enveloped her and transported her to a realm where worries faded and imagination ran freely.
As Elysha continued along the path, a faint childish laughter reached her ears, teasing her curiosity.
“... Hehe.”
She stopped, and turned towards a certain direction.
“... What was that?” Elysha muttered in a soft voice. Intrigued, she followed the sound, her senses attuned to the silent whispers of the garden.
As she passed through an archway adorned with vines, an unnatural glow of light caught Elysha's attention and triggered a wave of nervous anticipation in her heart.
Driven by her still unfathomable curiosity, she followed the strange light and let herself be guided by the gentle swaying of the surrounding flowers. The path led her to a fountain where the sunlight danced on the shimmering water.
It was there, by the fountain's edge, that Elysha beheld a sight—a figure that seemed to materialize from the very essence of the garden.
A spirit, taking the form of a child, stood before her, delicately picking flowers and placing them in a humble straw basket. As Elysha drew closer, the spirit's face remained indistinct, a blur that bore an uncanny resemblance to her own features.
Caught between wonder and fear, Elysha held her breath. She felt a strange familiarity with the spirit, though she couldn't quite grasp the reason for it. Still entranced by the surrounding environment, she found herself speaking, her voice carrying a mixture of her own emotions.
"Who are you?"
Elysha's words drifted into the air, lingering in the garden's enchantment.
“...”
The spirit did not answer, its ethereal form turned away with an air of playfulness and continued their stroll through the labyrinthine maze of the garden. Laughter, pure and joyous, danced in the wind, leaving Elysha searching for answers that seemed unattainable.
Compelled to follow, Elysha took a step forward, her interests pushing her boundaries, but in the midst of everything, a sudden realization pierced her reverie and sent a shiver down her spine.
“Ah!” She blurted out loud, and looked around the area. The distance that had grown between her and Elder Merakia became starkly apparent, a rift of distance she hadn't noticed until now.
Panic welled up within her, knotting her stomach as she grappled with the gravity of her situation.
“A-Ah, how could I let myself walked so far away from Elder Mera…?” She stammered, holding her hands together in a grip.
With a pang of urgency, Elysha turned around quickly, her gaze scanning the green surroundings for a familiar person. Her eyes also looked for the strange spirit—however, the spirit was nowhere to be found.
She continued to search for her guardian, and just as worry threatened to overwhelm her, she heard a voice broke through.
“... Elysha!”
Startled, Elysha spun around, pulling back from the edge of uncertainty and running until her eyes met with Elder Merakia's reassuring gaze.
"Elysha!” Elder Merakia called out. “Please never again stray too far from where I can see you!"
Her guardian’s voice carried a mix of concern and reprimand. Her parasol folded up and her gloved hand placed on her chest to ease her worried breathing. “You had me nervous for disappearing from my eyes like that!”
Relief and fear washed over her.
‘I did…?’
Despite her confusion, Elysha mustered a response, her voice trembling with both regret and corrected manner.
"I-I’m sorry, Elder Mera. I won’t do it again!”
~ ❈❇❈ ~
Elysha continued to wander through the garden, her steps guided by her wonders and the presence of Elder Merakia at her side. Their hands intertwined, and the warmth of their connection grounded them in the magical realm in which they walked.
The touch of her keyhole-shaped necklace gave Elysha a sense of comfort as she continued to absorb the sights and sounds of nature surrounding her.
Then Elysha stopped, and Elder Merakia turned to see her gaze fixed on a pile of objects on the ground. She couldn't make out what it was, but it seemed to have something to do with some sort of play.
“Tsk,”
She turned to see Elder Merakia making an annoyed look, and said, “Oh, what you see there are some past activity your neighbors left behind.”
“Neighbors?”
Elder Merakia nodded, “Yes,” and then frowned deeply. “Those lazy fools who don't clean up their mess in my sanctuary... Ah, when I see them again, it will be unpleasant for them to hear that they will lose their privilege to my delicious cooking. I will have to make sure they discipline themselves and not leave such a mess again, oh fuhuhuhu-huhuhu—”
A great, ominous energy emanated from her guardian's presence, and Elysha involuntarily held her breath, frozen in place as she watched her smiling uncannily, as if she were imagining a scenario that the child herself did not want to see.
Instead of waiting any longer, Elysha asked another question, “U-Um, where are they now?"
Elder Merakia snapped out of her musings, looked back at Elysha and replied, "Oh, them? They are out in the forest somewhere, for today is a very quiet day in the Forest of Irostos. Nevertheless, all will be back to normalcy soon enough, and you will get to meet them yourself the next time they visit.”
After that, Elder Merakia walked on, turned around and said, “Come with me, let’s continue together to complete the full circle of this garden.”
Together, Elysha and Elder Merakia continued to walk through the area further onwards, holding hands and taking in the impressions of the garden. As they walked on, a pavilion came into view, its structure beckoning to them.
Elysha's gaze lingered on the pavilion, caught by its allure. Elder Merakia sensed the child's interest and spoke in a soft but interested voice, "Elysha, why don't you come with me to the pavilion?"
The little girl nodded back, and together they made their way to the gazebo.
As they drew closer, Elysha could see the sunlight filtering through the lattice walls and leaving a unique pattern on the floor. Some of the lights touched a plain book lying on a round table, and the little girl's gaze fell on top of it.
Her small hand reached out, picked up the book, and looked at the title. "Het Dysut nda Otebanrivos of Montehu Neyegr Evslle ni eht Ssemirelcio Acerohpgila" was written on the cover, a foreign and mysterious concept waiting to be opened.
Although the title had no meaning for her, Elysha's curious urge pushed her to open the book and explore the pages, which she did.
“eito—atgsalmnenryfoyehdioearthrromfnaroniti
tghmtaaithre?reaewiniys
eetisryeinalh—wrtmligea,
ghvdanisirttyl.theeeia”
As she continued to flip through the pages, a frown creased her brow. The content was full of complicated letters and confusing diagrams that made it difficult for her mind to comprehend.
Caught up in her thoughts, Elysha didn't notice Elder Merakia watching her until a voice broke through her concentration.
"Are you reading the SOTELSA, Elysha?"
Elysha averted her gaze from the pages and met the eyes of her guardian, whose expression suggested amusement and interest.
"Yes... but I can't understand it, Elder Mera. How can you make sense of it?" She asked with a hint of frustration in her voice.
“The book you're holding is known as ‘The Study and Observation of Theonum Energy Levels in the Soliremisce Archipelago’ or in its abbreviated name, the SOTELSA.”
Elder Merakia's gaze softened as she took the book from Elysha's hands and placed it back on the table. Then she continued, "It is not something that is easy for young people to grasp, especially for children," she explained. "But don't worry, I have something else to tell you, something that can be conveyed in a simpler way."